A general purpose astronomy small satellite: an approach to low-cost space telescope design using space-qualified ground telescopes

Natasha Bosanac; Sydney Do; Hui Ying Wen; Anthony Wicht

doi:10.1117/12.858018

5 August 2010 A general purpose astronomy small satellite: an approach to low-cost space telescope design using space-qualified ground telescopes

Natasha Bosanac, Sydney Do, Hui Ying Wen, Anthony Wicht

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7731, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2010: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave; 77311P (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.858018
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2010, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The General Purpose Astronomy - Small Satellite (GPA-SS) project studied the feasibility of developing a useful space telescope with a cost to launch below $100 million. An optical telescope assembly (OTA) designed for ground use is proposed for use in a space mission in order to take advantage of the economies of scale in existing mirror fabrication processes. This paper details the additional design, manufacture and test tasks required to flight-qualify the ground telescope. A near-infrared imaging space telescope was costed as a potential mission. Key subsystems were designed at a conceptual level. This design was used both to estimate subsystem costs and to inform the science achievable from a given telescope design. Subsystem costs were estimated from the design through a combination of previously published cost estimating relationships and vendor quotes. This paper concludes that the space-qualification of an existing ground telescope is a potential approach for making significant cost savings when designing a low cost space telescope. Additional work on design and cost estimation around the framework presented in this paper could be undertaken to add certainty to the cost estimate.

Citation Download Citation

Natasha Bosanac, Sydney Do, Hui Ying Wen, and Anthony Wicht "A general purpose astronomy small satellite: an approach to low-cost space telescope design using space-qualified ground telescopes", Proc. SPIE 7731, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2010: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave, 77311P (5 August 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.858018

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